We were given the first vague cameo of Batman in the DCU, but James Gunn’s comments about the character have us even more excited to see more of the caped crusader. Batman’s first cameo appearance was tied to Creature Commandos, the first official project released as part of the first chapter of the DCU, Gods and Monsters. The show focuses on the titular team of monsters sent to the land of Pokoristan to defeat a sorcerer known as Circe, and the ending of episode 6 of Creature Commandos brings this story to its final stages. Masu.
But interestingly, this episode focused on a character known as Doctor Phosphorus, who has a backstory surrounding Gotham City. Unsurprisingly, this allowed many Easter eggs in Creature Commandos Episode 6 to shed light on the part about the Dark Knight’s home base. Batman’s Creature Commando cameo appeared in a flashback in the Doctor Phosphorus story, shortly after James Gunn mentioned the character’s first appearance in the DCU (via Rotten Tomatoes TV). These comments from the head of DC Studios make me more excited than ever about Batman’s future in the franchise.
Gunn is waiting to confirm some details on Batman
When talking about Batman’s future in the DCU, James Gunn wisely reassured fans that he had left the Caped Crusader mysterious with a cameo from Creature Commandos. Gunn revealed that when the animated panel was first presented, more of Batman was shown in full focus. Director Gunn has insisted that he needs to back off in many ways, saying only that he’s not yet ready to commit to showing deeper, more explicit elements of Batman in the DCU.
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Gunn insisted that character cameos be kept to simple silhouettes, wisely avoiding obsession with the characters’ physical and visual designs. Thankfully, this leaves a lot of mystery around the character. It would be a shame if the big reveal about the DCU’s Batman is made for another project, rather than being saved for his first solo appearance, perhaps in the story of The Brave and the Bold . As Gunn points out, the Creature Commandos cameo confirms that Batman exists in the DCU and already has a history, while keeping large elements of his character a mystery into the future. It is effective to keep it in place.
James Gunn’s enthusiasm for Batman means he approaches his iteration of the DCU very carefully
DC chiefs are just as excited as Batman fans in the DCU
The mystique of the DCU’s Batman in Creature Commandos was a pleasant surprise for me, but I was even happier when Gunn went on to talk about the character’s future. After discussing the Dark Knight’s brief debut in Creature Commandos, Gunn went on to outline his love for the character. Gunn loves Batman and has stated many times that Batman is his favorite in his extensive DC and Marvel collection. Gunn claimed, “We’re going to do great things with him…and I can’t wait for people to see more of him…”
Gunn’s enthusiasm is contagious, and more than anything, it proves that the DCU version of the character is getting it right…
I’ve known for a while that Gunn is a Batman fan, but I honestly didn’t know it was this big. Gunn’s enthusiasm is contagious and, more than anything, proves that the DCU version of the character is getting it right. More than that, Gunn’s enthusiasm means that character introductions and storylines within the series are handled with great care. The little Creature Commandos’ involvement, or even intentional lack of involvement, with this character in their cameos proves just how important Batman is to Gunn, and similarly how much more so to the DCU’s iteration of Bruce Wayne. It shows how much love and care goes into it.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Batman in the DCU
With all this in mind, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Batman in the DCU in the future. Perhaps the most exciting element for me is that the DCU’s Batman now has a more fantastical portrayal of the character. Ever since Michael Keaton played Batman in 1989, the series has placed some emphasis on conveying a grounded, gritty and realistic portrayal of the character. That’s why many people, myself included, have long wanted to see the more fantasy-based elements of DC Comics’ Batman animated.
If Creature Commando and Batman’s cameos prove anything, it’s that this is exactly what they can offer me. The show features a team of monsters who are already on a level of awesomeness that surpasses any live-action Batman villain from the past decade or so. Given the fact that Batman already has a history of defeating these types of characters, a more comic book version of Gotham’s famous guardian is expected. Beyond that, Gunn’s infectious enthusiasm for the DCU and Batman excites me for the character’s future, regardless of how he’s treated in terms of tone.
This animated series follows a secret team of nefarious prisoners who are recruited for dangerous missions unfit for humans. United by secrecy and necessity, Creature Commandos take on extraordinary threats and serve as the ultimate option when traditional forces are insufficient.
release date
December 5, 2024
cast
Indira Varma, Frank Grillo, Zoe Chao, David Harbour, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Anya Chalotra, Maria Bakalova, Viola Davis, Steve Agee, Benjamin Byron Davis